Journal Article

The influence of antigenic variation on cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses in HIV-1 infection

Klenerman, Paul, Phillips, Rodney E., Meier, U.-C., Purbhoo, Marco A., Sewell, A. K., Price, David A.

1998

Overview

The propensity of HIV-1 for genetic variation, a consequence of error-prone reverse transcription combined with high rates of replication, is thought to contribute to the establishment of persistent infection in the host despite the presence of a vigorous antiviral immune response. Protective immunity to viruses is mediated primarily by cytotoxic T lymphocytes, which recognize viral peptides of 8-11 amino acids bound to major histocompatibility complex class I molecules on the surface of infected cells. In this review we examine the mechanisms by which mutation within peptide antigen-encoding regions of the viral genome enables HIV-1 to evade recognition by virus-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes. The discussion is relevant to other genetically unstable viruses and more generally to intracellular pathogens of variable antigenicity.

• Publisher: Springer
• Subject: Amino acids / Antigenic Variation / Biological and medical sciences / HIV Antigens - genetics / HIV Infections - immunology / HIV-1 - genetics / HIV-1 - immunology / Human immunodeficiency virus 1 / Human viral diseases / Humans / Infectious diseases / Lymphocyte Activation / Medical sciences / Peptides - immunology / T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic - immunology / Viral diseases / Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids